| Councillor | Ward Name | Ward Number | Contact | Policy Support Index | New Arena Support | Notes: New Arena Support | Financial Contribution | Notes: Financial Contribution | Business Friendly | Location Benefit | Notes: Location Benefit | Traffic Concern | Notes: Traffic Concern | Transit Access | Notes: Transit Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Sutcliffe | City of Ottawa Mayor | All | Mark.Sutcliffe@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He has expressed his support since his candidacy for the mayoral position. He continues to be supportive behind the scenes. | Medium | While his original talking points led him to pour cold water on a potential financial contributiion from the City, he understands that public support will be needed in order for this project to go forward. As he becomes more experienced, he will likely develop a much more nuanced position in order to get this project done. | Yes | Neutral; city-wide coverage | While the Mayor understands the benefits of having a centrally located arena, he must show equal concern for West-end residents who are losing an economic driver. He also has a strong allegiance to Kanata. | Yes | He will have to show regard for local traffic and congestion calming. | High | He has a strong vested interested in a downtown site that increased ridership and public confidence in Ottawa’s LRT system. |
| Matthew Luloff | Orléans East-Cumberland | 1 | Matt.Luloff@ottawa.ca | 5.5 | Yes | Extremely supportive. Has offered to be our top ally on Council. He wants to make the business case as attractive as possible, particularly around development. He doesn’t want to push for more affordable housing and believe we should get development charge rebates or higher height allowances based on the number of affordable housing units made available. | Open to Funding | While not explicitly stated, he wants to the project to make sense financially for the Senators and developers. Combined with his emphatic support, he should be considered as an ally for a funding pursuit. | Yes | 1 | East-end Councillor. His residents would benefit from a downtown arena. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Medium | East-end Councillor with some rural representation. However, much of his Ward has strong OC Transpo access. |
| Laura Dudas | Orléans West-Innes | 2 | Laura.Dudas@ottawa.ca | 5.0 | Yes | She is supportive of the project and has been constructive in our conversations. She wants us to build “something beautiful” – so urban design and strong community planning will be considered an asset. | Open to Funding | She is open to funding but wants the NCC to contribute, especially for the aspects of the project for which they’re pushing. She provided helpful suggestions for structuring our financial ask. | Yes | Yes | East-end Councillor. His residents would benefit from a downtown arena. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | Strong OC Transpo access to LeBreton from the east-end. However, she agrees that we need parking. She also floated free transit rides to and from Sens games – and suggests we strike a parking partnership with the nearby central library. |
| David Hill | Barrhaven West | 3 | David.Hill@ottawa.ca | 5.0 | Yes | He is supportive of a move downtown, as he believes it would help put Ottawa on the world stage. He understands the return on investment and the requirement for public support. He has explicitly told us that he will be a go-to supporter on Council. | Open to Funding | He has said he’s “our guy” on Council. | Yes | No | Barrhaven is a relatively short-drive to Kanata; however, future transit expansion will benefit his constituents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | The O-Train will run to Limebank Station, which is situated directly beside Barrhaven. |
| Cathy Curry | Kanata North | 4 | Cathy.Curry@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Understands that a downtown arena will benefit the city. She is most interested in productive uses for the existing site. She is willing to be a helpful partner on Council. | Medium | Most investment will be centralized outside of his community. An ambitious commitment to the Kanata site would help move the dial on Councillor Curry’s support. | Yes | No | West-end Councillor. While many of her Kanata residents support the move, local businesses will be affected. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | Stage 3 of the LRT will have a station by Curry’s Ward. |
| Clarke Kelly | West Carleton-March | 5 | Clarke.Kelly@ottawa.ca | 3.5 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project. He has mixed feelings about a move away from the west-end but ultimately understands the need for a centrally-located arena. He’s a pragmatic, moderate Councillor and also a Sens/hockey fan, which could be helpful in the future. | Medium | Neutral as of now. Many of the direct economic benefits will be outside of his community. | Yes | No | Has mixed feelings about the arena leaving the West end. He’s concerned about local businesses. Ultimately, however, he understands how the LeBreton vision aligns with a modern model of arena development and placement. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | Rural, west-end Ward. Most residents do not have quick access to transit. Driving to a Stage 3 LRT station would be a significant trip on its own – on top of a transit ride downtown. Driving would be preferable for an already longer commute to LeBreton. |
| Glen Gower | Sittsville | 6 | Glen.Gower@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He understands the need for a downtown arena. He is turning his focus to future uses of the existing Kanata site. He’s former Ottawa Senators employee and would like to be more engaged with the organization moving forward. | Medium | Most investment will be centralized outside of his community. An ambitious commitment to the Kanata site would help move the dial on Councillor Gower’s support. | Yes | No | West-end Councillor. The current arena is currently in his Ward. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Medium | No O-Train service to Stittsville yet. He is hoping for expanded access to Stittsville. However, OC Transpo buses run through Stittsville, and there will be nearby LRT access in areas of his ward that are technically in Kanata. |
| Theresa Kavanagh | Bay | 7 | BayWard@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | She is glad that the arena could move downtown. She understands we need parking and wants more residential development on the existing Kanata site. She is hoping for an integrated, mixed-use development with grocery stores and vibrant vulture. | Medium | While she understands the sensitivity around a funding request, she is an experienced councillor and in-tune with the financial needs of such a project. | Neither | Yes | The new site will be much closer to her riding. | Yes | Mildly affected by increased local congestion. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. |
| Laine Johnson | College | 8 | Collegeward@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Thinks this will make Ottawa world-class city. Called herself a “huge supporter”. Wants to create a live-work-play environment where people interact constantly. She opposes those who would resist positive change. She is also very interested in productive uses for the existing Kanata site. | Medium | She did not expliclty address the funding issue; however, her strong signal of support means she is a contender to being open to the possibility. | Yes | Yes | While Bells Corners abuts Kanata, she is strongly supportive of moving downtown. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Medium | Her residents will need to drive to a Stage 2 or 3 LRT station to access the downtown site. |
| Sean Devine | Knoxdale-Merivale | 9 | Sean.Devine@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Has shown strong interest in a slightly smaller, downtown arena. Loves the idea of having a few less seats than the existing arena so that players can always play in a packed house. | Medium | Neutral as of now. | No | Yes | A downtown arena is more accessible for his residents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | NA |
| Jessica Bradley | Gloucester-Southgate | 10 | Jessica.Bradley@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Thinks a downtown arena makes “perfect sense”. | Open to Funding | She understands there will be a financial ask but noted the “scars” from the Landsdowne project. She made it clear there will need to be a strong articulation of community benefits. | Yes | Yes | A downtown arena is more accessible for her residents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | She represents a mixed rural-suburban ward with varied access to transit. |
| Tim Tierney | Beacon Hill-Cyrville | 11 | Tim.Tierney@ottawa.ca | 5.5 | Yes | He is very supportive of the project and further developing LeBreton Flats. He was a major proponent of developing the new central library on the site. He has a high degree of insight on working with the NCC given his experience on the library. | Open to Funding | He is warmer on his comments towards funding. | Yes | Yes | A downtown arena is more accessible for his residents. | Yes | Mildly affected by increased local congestion. | High | Direct access to the arena through LRT and other forms of public transit and active transportation. With that said, he is onboard for more parking to help other residents access the site. |
| Stéphanie Plante | Rideau-Vanier | 12 | stephanie.plante@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Councillor Plante told us that she can be considered as a “top-tier supporter”. She was not a fan of the Kanata site and thinks a downtown arena will be great for the community. | Medium | She did not expliclty address the funding issue; however, her strong signal of support means she is a contender to being open to the possibility. | Yes | Yes | Travelling to Kanata is a pain for her. She thinks the central location will be a game-changer. | Yes | Increased traffic on game/event nights could reach their Ward; however, this was not mentioned in our discussion. | High | Her Ward is within walking and transit distance. |
| Rawlson King | Rideau-Rockcliffe | 13 | rideaurockcliffeward@ottawa.ca | 3.0 | Yes | He would like to see a successful development on LeBreton Flats with an arena as the major catalyst. | Low | He has expressed concerns with using municipal funding to support the project. | No | Yes | Stands to benefit economically from a centrally-located arena. His residents will benefit from a easier transportation and access to a downtown arena. | Yes | Increased traffic on game/event nights could reach their Ward. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. He has expressed his interest in leveraging integrated transit to boost LRT ridership. |
| Ariel Troster | Somerset | 14 | Ariel.Troster@ottawa.ca | 3.5 | Yes | She supports the move to LeBreton Flats, which is situated in her Ward. She can be more hostile to businesses; however, she is a big Senators fan and is open to supporting the project. Her overall support will be highly tied to progressive elements of our proposal, such as integrated transit, promoting active transportation, and – perhaps most importantly – a strong commitment to build affordable housing units. | Medium | Would be more supportive of providing financial support if there are a host of City services and affordable housing benefits attached to the project. | No | Yes | LeBreton Flats is in her Ward. | Yes | She will be the strongest voice on traffic mitigation and promoting integrated transit and active transportation. | High | Two LRT stations in her Ward and high volume of bus options. |
| Jeff Leiper | Kitchissippi | 15 | Jeff.Leiper@ottawa.ca | 3.5 | Yes | He thinks Ottawa “needs” an arena in downtown Ottawa, especially if it’s backed by a community facility and public rinks. He is very critical of a west-end, suburban arena, and opts to travel outside of Ottawa to attend major music events rather than driving to Kanata. He likes the idea of having hotels beside an arena, like in other markets he travels to. The number of parking spaces will be a very contentious issue for Leiper. | Medium | His willingness to support funding will likely depend on the number of parking spaces. However, he explicitly stated that the City needs to put money into a potential partnership, especially if a community facility/rink is built. | No | Yes | He is a major critic of a west-end, suburban arena. He emphatically expressed his understanding for a downtown, centrally-located arena. | Yes | This will be the biggest sticking point for Councillor Leiper. He will make “noise” if there are over 1,000 parking spots on the site. He favours park and rides and would not budge on his position. | High | He heavily favourites transit as the primary mode of accessing the site. He is a proponent of park and rides for suburban visitors. |
| Riley Brockington | River | 16 | Riley.Brockington@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project. | Medium | Unclear how he will react to a final funding ask. He was more tight-lipped on his commitment to advocate within Council. | Yes | Yes | Neighbours the Ward where LeBreton Flats is located. Local businesses will benefit. | Yes | His Ward will be impacted by increased traffic pressures. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. |
| Shawn Menard | Capital | 17 | capitalward@ottawa.ca | 3.0 | Yes | He is supportive of the move downtown despite being one of the more “prickly” progressive Councillors. His support will be tied to progressive elements of our proposal, such as integrated transit, promoting active transportation, and – perhaps most importantly – a strong commitment to build affordable housing units. | Low | He will likely object to funding in favour of supporting social services. | No | Yes | Neighbours the Ward where LeBreton Flats is located. Local businesses will benefit. | Yes | He has expressed concern about parking and increased congestion. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. |
| Marty Carr | Alta Vista | 18 | Marty.Carr@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | She does not like having a west-end, suburban arena. Agrees that we need a downtown arena. | Neutral | Currently neutral on funding. | No | Yes | Neighbours the Ward where LeBreton Flats is located. Local businesses will benefit. | Yes | Increased traffic on game/event nights could reach their Ward. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. Very interested in LRT benefits and wants to minimize parking. |
| Catherine Kitts | Orléans South-Navan | 19 | Catherine.Kitts@ottawa.ca | 5.5 | Yes | Councillor Kitts is likely our strongest supporter. She is fully onboard with the project. She will be a major supporter to leverage as our pitch is developed. | Open to Funding | She has been the most outwardly supportive Councillor in agreeing to advocate for municipal funding. | Yes | Yes | A downtown arena is much more accessible for her residents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | Her Ward does not have strong access to transit. It would take over an hour to fully commute by transit. More parking spaces will be desirable. |
| George Darouze | Osgoode | 20 | George.Darouze@ottawa.ca | 5.0 | Yes | Extremely supportive. Wants shovels in the ground as soon as possible. | Open to Funding | He has said he will be one of the easiest Councillors to work with. | Yes | Yes | The new site will be much closer to his riding. | No | His Ward is outside of the urban boundary. He will not be concerned with local traffic impacts. | None | Most of his Ward does not have transit access. |
| David Brown | Rideau-Jock | 21 | Ward21@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project. | Open to Funding | More open to funding | Yes | No | West-end, rural Councillor. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | Low access to transit. Will need to drive to Kanata park ‘n’ rides to access the LRT in the future. He believes it’s impossible for his constituents to rely on transit, based on their geographic location. His support will require a parking component. |
| Steve Desroches | Riverside South-Findlay Creek | 22 | Steve.Desroches@ottawa.ca | 5.0 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project. | Open to Funding | Thinks it’s going to be a tough sell but was receptive to creative solutions on how the public funding can be accessed. He’s interested in the CRL model and also floated an equity share for the City in the arena. Also thinks the federal government/NCC should impose a local levy to help fund the arena. He opposes subsidies for business, generally. | Yes | Yes | A downtown arena is more accessible for his residents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | Trillium Line extension will run through his ward. He’s also the Chair of the LRT subcommittee. He agrees we need parking, however. |
| Allan Hubley | Kanata South | 23 | Allan.Hubley@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Has strong relationships with the organization. He understands why we want to move downtown and does not want to tell us how to run our business or set up the site. For example, his support will not be conditional on elements such as affordable housing. He is very interested in future uses of the Kanata site, as long as it has a 365-day-per-year use. | Medium | Neutral as of now. Many of the direct economic benefits will be outside of his community. | Yes | No | West-end Councillor. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | Stage 3 of the LRT will have a station by Hubley’s Ward. |
| Wilson Lo | Barrhaven East | 24 | Wilson.Lo@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project and thinks it will revitalize the downtown core. | Medium | Neutral as of now. | Yes | No | His residents have equal access to Kanata as they do in LeBreton. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | His residents will have LRT access to LeBreton Flats. As a former OC Transpo operator, however, he understands the need for parking and the challenges with the existing system. |
| Councillor | Ward Name | Ward Number | Contact | Policy Support Index | New Arena Support | Notes: New Arena Support | Financial Contribution | Notes: Financial Contribution | Business Friendly | Location Benefit | Notes: Location Benefit | Traffic Concern | Notes: Traffic Concern | Transit Access | Notes: Transit Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Sutcliffe | City of Ottawa Mayor | All | Mark.Sutcliffe@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He has expressed his support since his candidacy for the mayoral position. He continues to be supportive behind the scenes. | Medium | While his original talking points led him to pour cold water on a potential financial contributiion from the City, he understands that public support will be needed in order for this project to go forward. As he becomes more experienced, he will likely develop a much more nuanced position in order to get this project done. | Yes | Neutral; city-wide coverage | While the Mayor understands the benefits of having a centrally located arena, he must show equal concern for West-end residents who are losing an economic driver. He also has a strong allegiance to Kanata. | Yes | He will have to show regard for local traffic and congestion calming. | High | He has a strong vested interested in a downtown site that increased ridership and public confidence in Ottawa’s LRT system. |
| Matthew Luloff | Orléans East-Cumberland | 1 | Matt.Luloff@ottawa.ca | 5.5 | Yes | Extremely supportive. Has offered to be our top ally on Council. He wants to make the business case as attractive as possible, particularly around development. He doesn’t want to push for more affordable housing and believe we should get development charge rebates or higher height allowances based on the number of affordable housing units made available. | Open to Funding | While not explicitly stated, he wants to the project to make sense financially for the Senators and developers. Combined with his emphatic support, he should be considered as an ally for a funding pursuit. | Yes | 1 | East-end Councillor. His residents would benefit from a downtown arena. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Medium | East-end Councillor with some rural representation. However, much of his Ward has strong OC Transpo access. |
| Laura Dudas | Orléans West-Innes | 2 | Laura.Dudas@ottawa.ca | 5.0 | Yes | She is supportive of the project and has been constructive in our conversations. She wants us to build “something beautiful” – so urban design and strong community planning will be considered an asset. | Open to Funding | She is open to funding but wants the NCC to contribute, especially for the aspects of the project for which they’re pushing. She provided helpful suggestions for structuring our financial ask. | Yes | Yes | East-end Councillor. His residents would benefit from a downtown arena. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | Strong OC Transpo access to LeBreton from the east-end. However, she agrees that we need parking. She also floated free transit rides to and from Sens games – and suggests we strike a parking partnership with the nearby central library. |
| David Hill | Barrhaven West | 3 | David.Hill@ottawa.ca | 5.0 | Yes | He is supportive of a move downtown, as he believes it would help put Ottawa on the world stage. He understands the return on investment and the requirement for public support. He has explicitly told us that he will be a go-to supporter on Council. | Open to Funding | He has said he’s “our guy” on Council. | Yes | No | Barrhaven is a relatively short-drive to Kanata; however, future transit expansion will benefit his constituents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | The O-Train will run to Limebank Station, which is situated directly beside Barrhaven. |
| Cathy Curry | Kanata North | 4 | Cathy.Curry@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Understands that a downtown arena will benefit the city. She is most interested in productive uses for the existing site. She is willing to be a helpful partner on Council. | Medium | Most investment will be centralized outside of his community. An ambitious commitment to the Kanata site would help move the dial on Councillor Curry’s support. | Yes | No | West-end Councillor. While many of her Kanata residents support the move, local businesses will be affected. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | Stage 3 of the LRT will have a station by Curry’s Ward. |
| Clarke Kelly | West Carleton-March | 5 | Clarke.Kelly@ottawa.ca | 3.5 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project. He has mixed feelings about a move away from the west-end but ultimately understands the need for a centrally-located arena. He’s a pragmatic, moderate Councillor and also a Sens/hockey fan, which could be helpful in the future. | Medium | Neutral as of now. Many of the direct economic benefits will be outside of his community. | Yes | No | Has mixed feelings about the arena leaving the West end. He’s concerned about local businesses. Ultimately, however, he understands how the LeBreton vision aligns with a modern model of arena development and placement. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | Rural, west-end Ward. Most residents do not have quick access to transit. Driving to a Stage 3 LRT station would be a significant trip on its own – on top of a transit ride downtown. Driving would be preferable for an already longer commute to LeBreton. |
| Glen Gower | Sittsville | 6 | Glen.Gower@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He understands the need for a downtown arena. He is turning his focus to future uses of the existing Kanata site. He’s former Ottawa Senators employee and would like to be more engaged with the organization moving forward. | Medium | Most investment will be centralized outside of his community. An ambitious commitment to the Kanata site would help move the dial on Councillor Gower’s support. | Yes | No | West-end Councillor. The current arena is currently in his Ward. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Medium | No O-Train service to Stittsville yet. He is hoping for expanded access to Stittsville. However, OC Transpo buses run through Stittsville, and there will be nearby LRT access in areas of his ward that are technically in Kanata. |
| Theresa Kavanagh | Bay | 7 | BayWard@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | She is glad that the arena could move downtown. She understands we need parking and wants more residential development on the existing Kanata site. She is hoping for an integrated, mixed-use development with grocery stores and vibrant vulture. | Medium | While she understands the sensitivity around a funding request, she is an experienced councillor and in-tune with the financial needs of such a project. | Neither | Yes | The new site will be much closer to her riding. | Yes | Mildly affected by increased local congestion. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. |
| Laine Johnson | College | 8 | Collegeward@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Thinks this will make Ottawa world-class city. Called herself a “huge supporter”. Wants to create a live-work-play environment where people interact constantly. She opposes those who would resist positive change. She is also very interested in productive uses for the existing Kanata site. | Medium | She did not expliclty address the funding issue; however, her strong signal of support means she is a contender to being open to the possibility. | Yes | Yes | While Bells Corners abuts Kanata, she is strongly supportive of moving downtown. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Medium | Her residents will need to drive to a Stage 2 or 3 LRT station to access the downtown site. |
| Sean Devine | Knoxdale-Merivale | 9 | Sean.Devine@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Has shown strong interest in a slightly smaller, downtown arena. Loves the idea of having a few less seats than the existing arena so that players can always play in a packed house. | Medium | Neutral as of now. | No | Yes | A downtown arena is more accessible for his residents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | NA |
| Jessica Bradley | Gloucester-Southgate | 10 | Jessica.Bradley@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Thinks a downtown arena makes “perfect sense”. | Open to Funding | She understands there will be a financial ask but noted the “scars” from the Landsdowne project. She made it clear there will need to be a strong articulation of community benefits. | Yes | Yes | A downtown arena is more accessible for her residents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | She represents a mixed rural-suburban ward with varied access to transit. |
| Tim Tierney | Beacon Hill-Cyrville | 11 | Tim.Tierney@ottawa.ca | 5.5 | Yes | He is very supportive of the project and further developing LeBreton Flats. He was a major proponent of developing the new central library on the site. He has a high degree of insight on working with the NCC given his experience on the library. | Open to Funding | He is warmer on his comments towards funding. | Yes | Yes | A downtown arena is more accessible for his residents. | Yes | Mildly affected by increased local congestion. | High | Direct access to the arena through LRT and other forms of public transit and active transportation. With that said, he is onboard for more parking to help other residents access the site. |
| Stéphanie Plante | Rideau-Vanier | 12 | stephanie.plante@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Councillor Plante told us that she can be considered as a “top-tier supporter”. She was not a fan of the Kanata site and thinks a downtown arena will be great for the community. | Medium | She did not expliclty address the funding issue; however, her strong signal of support means she is a contender to being open to the possibility. | Yes | Yes | Travelling to Kanata is a pain for her. She thinks the central location will be a game-changer. | Yes | Increased traffic on game/event nights could reach their Ward; however, this was not mentioned in our discussion. | High | Her Ward is within walking and transit distance. |
| Rawlson King | Rideau-Rockcliffe | 13 | rideaurockcliffeward@ottawa.ca | 3.0 | Yes | He would like to see a successful development on LeBreton Flats with an arena as the major catalyst. | Low | He has expressed concerns with using municipal funding to support the project. | No | Yes | Stands to benefit economically from a centrally-located arena. His residents will benefit from a easier transportation and access to a downtown arena. | Yes | Increased traffic on game/event nights could reach their Ward. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. He has expressed his interest in leveraging integrated transit to boost LRT ridership. |
| Ariel Troster | Somerset | 14 | Ariel.Troster@ottawa.ca | 3.5 | Yes | She supports the move to LeBreton Flats, which is situated in her Ward. She can be more hostile to businesses; however, she is a big Senators fan and is open to supporting the project. Her overall support will be highly tied to progressive elements of our proposal, such as integrated transit, promoting active transportation, and – perhaps most importantly – a strong commitment to build affordable housing units. | Medium | Would be more supportive of providing financial support if there are a host of City services and affordable housing benefits attached to the project. | No | Yes | LeBreton Flats is in her Ward. | Yes | She will be the strongest voice on traffic mitigation and promoting integrated transit and active transportation. | High | Two LRT stations in her Ward and high volume of bus options. |
| Jeff Leiper | Kitchissippi | 15 | Jeff.Leiper@ottawa.ca | 3.5 | Yes | He thinks Ottawa “needs” an arena in downtown Ottawa, especially if it’s backed by a community facility and public rinks. He is very critical of a west-end, suburban arena, and opts to travel outside of Ottawa to attend major music events rather than driving to Kanata. He likes the idea of having hotels beside an arena, like in other markets he travels to. The number of parking spaces will be a very contentious issue for Leiper. | Medium | His willingness to support funding will likely depend on the number of parking spaces. However, he explicitly stated that the City needs to put money into a potential partnership, especially if a community facility/rink is built. | No | Yes | He is a major critic of a west-end, suburban arena. He emphatically expressed his understanding for a downtown, centrally-located arena. | Yes | This will be the biggest sticking point for Councillor Leiper. He will make “noise” if there are over 1,000 parking spots on the site. He favours park and rides and would not budge on his position. | High | He heavily favourites transit as the primary mode of accessing the site. He is a proponent of park and rides for suburban visitors. |
| Riley Brockington | River | 16 | Riley.Brockington@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project. | Medium | Unclear how he will react to a final funding ask. He was more tight-lipped on his commitment to advocate within Council. | Yes | Yes | Neighbours the Ward where LeBreton Flats is located. Local businesses will benefit. | Yes | His Ward will be impacted by increased traffic pressures. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. |
| Shawn Menard | Capital | 17 | capitalward@ottawa.ca | 3.0 | Yes | He is supportive of the move downtown despite being one of the more “prickly” progressive Councillors. His support will be tied to progressive elements of our proposal, such as integrated transit, promoting active transportation, and – perhaps most importantly – a strong commitment to build affordable housing units. | Low | He will likely object to funding in favour of supporting social services. | No | Yes | Neighbours the Ward where LeBreton Flats is located. Local businesses will benefit. | Yes | He has expressed concern about parking and increased congestion. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. |
| Marty Carr | Alta Vista | 18 | Marty.Carr@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | She does not like having a west-end, suburban arena. Agrees that we need a downtown arena. | Neutral | Currently neutral on funding. | No | Yes | Neighbours the Ward where LeBreton Flats is located. Local businesses will benefit. | Yes | Increased traffic on game/event nights could reach their Ward. | High | Centrally located with access to many modes of transportation. Very interested in LRT benefits and wants to minimize parking. |
| Catherine Kitts | Orléans South-Navan | 19 | Catherine.Kitts@ottawa.ca | 5.5 | Yes | Councillor Kitts is likely our strongest supporter. She is fully onboard with the project. She will be a major supporter to leverage as our pitch is developed. | Open to Funding | She has been the most outwardly supportive Councillor in agreeing to advocate for municipal funding. | Yes | Yes | A downtown arena is much more accessible for her residents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | Her Ward does not have strong access to transit. It would take over an hour to fully commute by transit. More parking spaces will be desirable. |
| George Darouze | Osgoode | 20 | George.Darouze@ottawa.ca | 5.0 | Yes | Extremely supportive. Wants shovels in the ground as soon as possible. | Open to Funding | He has said he will be one of the easiest Councillors to work with. | Yes | Yes | The new site will be much closer to his riding. | No | His Ward is outside of the urban boundary. He will not be concerned with local traffic impacts. | None | Most of his Ward does not have transit access. |
| David Brown | Rideau-Jock | 21 | Ward21@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project. | Open to Funding | More open to funding | Yes | No | West-end, rural Councillor. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | Low access to transit. Will need to drive to Kanata park ‘n’ rides to access the LRT in the future. He believes it’s impossible for his constituents to rely on transit, based on their geographic location. His support will require a parking component. |
| Steve Desroches | Riverside South-Findlay Creek | 22 | Steve.Desroches@ottawa.ca | 5.0 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project. | Open to Funding | Thinks it’s going to be a tough sell but was receptive to creative solutions on how the public funding can be accessed. He’s interested in the CRL model and also floated an equity share for the City in the arena. Also thinks the federal government/NCC should impose a local levy to help fund the arena. He opposes subsidies for business, generally. | Yes | Yes | A downtown arena is more accessible for his residents. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | Trillium Line extension will run through his ward. He’s also the Chair of the LRT subcommittee. He agrees we need parking, however. |
| Allan Hubley | Kanata South | 23 | Allan.Hubley@ottawa.ca | 4.5 | Yes | Has strong relationships with the organization. He understands why we want to move downtown and does not want to tell us how to run our business or set up the site. For example, his support will not be conditional on elements such as affordable housing. He is very interested in future uses of the Kanata site, as long as it has a 365-day-per-year use. | Medium | Neutral as of now. Many of the direct economic benefits will be outside of his community. | Yes | No | West-end Councillor. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | High | Stage 3 of the LRT will have a station by Hubley’s Ward. |
| Wilson Lo | Barrhaven East | 24 | Wilson.Lo@ottawa.ca | 4.0 | Yes | He is broadly supportive of the project and thinks it will revitalize the downtown core. | Medium | Neutral as of now. | Yes | No | His residents have equal access to Kanata as they do in LeBreton. | No | Ward unaffected by increased traffic in downtown neighbourhoods. | Low | His residents will have LRT access to LeBreton Flats. As a former OC Transpo operator, however, he understands the need for parking and the challenges with the existing system. |